Photos and write ups are just the beginning! SHOW your dogs in action through short, meaningful videos. Getting to see dogs in motion, interacting with others, showing off their skills or their endearing quirks, will help potential adopters imagine what life with your available dogs will be like.

For the dogs in foster care who are not available to meet potential adopters at the shelter, videos will be more effective than just sharing a photo of them. Show foster dogs interacting with others in the home to grab the attention of potential adopters.

Clementine Meets a Friend

TIPS FOR VIDEOS

How to make a quick and effective video:

Short is best! Keep videos to 1 minute or less.

Experiment with combining photos and microvideos (30 seconds or less) using apps such Vidstich for Instagram, then repost these vignettes on other social media sites.

You don’t need fancy equipment to capture engaging short videos. Instagram users can create and edit videos that are 60 seconds or less using their smartphones.

Know your audience. The purpose of the video is to attract adopters, so the video should be positive and upbeat. Focus on the best qualities of the dog you are filming. You’ll have plenty of time to discuss specific needs and issues once adopters contact you for more information.

Film the dogs with people, walking nicely on leash (it can be just a few steps!), sitting or lying down on command, looking directly into the camera, with other animals, or offering up a high five or trick, etc. Empower your staff and volunteers to capture short, but sweet videos of their interactions with the dogs throughout the day.

If using music, pick songs that provoke positive emotions in a wide variety of people.

Pull double duty! If you can fight stereotypes while simultaneously promoting adoption all of the dogs in your care will benefit. Bust myths about “pit bull” dogs by showing them with other kinds of dogs, in playgroups, snuggling and having quiet time.

If you don’t have time to make individual movies, incorporate video clips and photos of many different dogs to create an adoption video that will benefit multiple dogs. Play groups are a great video opportunity.

Always tell your viewers how to adopt the animals in your videos. Say or show the organization’s name and how they can meet the dogs (website, email, etc.) in the video. For longer videos, include a title page at the end with contact information. When posting on social media sites, include contact information and links in the text.

Share the videos on the dog’s individual Petfinder or Petango page, on social media sites, and your organization’s website.When sharing videos on Facebook, upload the video file directly to Facebook, rather than sharing the link to a video hosted on another site (like YouTube). Direct uploads may help increase your reach.

Upload some videos to Vimeo and YouTube. Give each video a title and add appropriate keywords to attract potential adopters. Your “channel” will show all the videos you upload, giving viewers a chance to look at more than the original video that drew them to your page.

Most Windows Operating Systems come with or can download a free version of Windows Movie Maker. Mac systems usually come loaded with iMovie. Both are intuitive and easy to use! Apps like Vine and Instagram allow you to create microvideos on your phone.

Consider going live! Livestreaming allows you to share big events in real time with your community. Broadcast live from an adoption event, a play group, or a community event. Create an “Ask the Expert” session and take questions from your viewers. Facebook and Periscope offer easy-to-use livestream options.